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Astronomical autumn may have officially arrived, but Spain is still experiencing temperatures more typical of midsummer. Much of the country will see highs above 30°C over the next few days, with the hottest conditions expected on Thursday and Friday before cooler air begins to spread across the country.

 

Thursday is expected to bring a significant rise in temperatures across northern Spain, with parts of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country seeing increases of 8°C to 10°C.

 

The Basque Country could see temperatures above 34°C, while inland areas of Galicia, Extremadura, Andalusia, western Castilla-La Mancha and the south of the Canary Islands could exceed 35°C.

 

Badajoz and Córdoba are among the places expected to feel the heat most strongly, with highs of 37°C to 38°C possible. A yellow weather warning has been issued for parts of the Guadiana valley in Badajoz province where temperatures could exceed 38°C.

 

Friday will bring a dramatic change for northern Spain, with temperatures falling sharply across the Cantabrian coast. Bilbao, for example, could drop from around 34°C on Thursday to just 25°C on Friday.

 

Further east and south, however, the heat will intensify. Inland parts of Murcia, southern Alicante and Almería could see temperatures rise by 6°C to 8°C, while Murcia could reach 36°C. Zaragoza could climb to 37°C and Lleida to around 35°C.

 

The southwest will remain particularly hot, with temperatures above 35°C possible across parts of Extremadura, Andalusia and western Castilla-La Mancha.

 

Temperatures will begin to fall on Saturday as cooler Atlantic air starts to move into Spain. The biggest changes are expected across northern and eastern areas, along with the Canary Islands.

 

Despite the drop, Saturday will still be unusually warm for late September, with many areas remaining well above their seasonal average.

 

By Sunday, the cooler conditions will become more widespread, with the biggest falls expected across southern and southeastern Spain.

 

Temperatures will remain above average in much of the country, but the extreme heat will ease. The arrival of cooler Atlantic air should continue to push temperatures down into next week, bringing conditions closer to what would normally be expected at the start of autumn.

 

For more weather news go to our Weather & Climate page or follow the Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates

Images: Archive / Aemet